The weapon goes silent. Red alarms drain into calm, pulsing white, and the lab feels suddenly too clean for the chaos it wears.
A synthetic voice rolls through the room, clipped and official. 'System Administrator access acknowledged.'
A hidden wall panel slides open with a soft hiss. Inside stands a pristine armored drone, polished white and chrome, its lenses bright as surgical lights.
The System Administrator
State your authorization, occupants. This installation is now under administrative review.
Kragore
That thing changed the whole room. Daro, keep the doors. I do not trust anything that walks out of the wall looking that clean.
The drone angles its head toward Daro, then toward Kragore, as if measuring both of them against some invisible checklist. The turret stays fixed on the ceiling conduit, waiting.
✓ Quest Accepted
Understand the weapon's communication
✓ Quest Accepted
Deal with the System Administrator
“"I got the doors, don't worry" I say before looking to the Administrator "Heros. Going to guess you got video access, check those while we stop this thing from blowing up your lab"”
SUCCESS (Good Intimidation, rolled -1)
Daro
I have the doors. Check the footage, and we keep your lab from blowing up.
The System Administrator
Compliance noted. Security archives are accessible through the wall panel and local optic relay.
The drone’s lens brightens, and a thin holo-map flickers over the open weapon panel, tagging camera nodes across the lab. Kragore straightens beside it, hand hovering over the readout as the device’s symbols pulse in time with the white alarms.
Kragore
That is not just footage access. It is talking to the room, Daro. See that route, it is offering a bypass through the maintenance spine.
A status line scrolls across the Administrator’s chest display, then locks in place: lockdown maintained for containment integrity. The words land hard, clinical and plain.
The System Administrator
The quarantine was not for the weapon. It was to contain unauthorized research below this level. I recommend you do not force that breach.
Kragore’s jaw tightens. The turret still watches the conduit, but the lab no longer feels empty. It feels like it has been hiding a second problem under the first.
“"Yea we know it not for the weapon, it for containing something. Guessing the villian who brtought this here, was going to use it to breach whatever is here. We came here to cover it. I suggest you let us finish up, before it goes boom."”
SUCCESS (Good Intimidation, rolled -1)
Daro
Yeah, we know. It is not for the weapon. It is holding something in. Whatever brought this in was going to crack that seal. We are here to stop that.
The System Administrator
Statement accepted. Your intervention aligns with containment objectives.
The drone’s chest display reconfigures. A clean admin key blooms across the holo-map, and the lockdown status shifts from maintained to partial release.
Kragore
That is... helpful. Disturbingly helpful.
Kragore lets out a short breath and relaxes one shoulder, but keeps a hand on the weapon panel. A faint crackle of static bites across the holo-readout as the lab routes new permissions through the wall relay.
The System Administrator
I can open the maintenance spine. I can also show you what the quarantine is built around. Choose.
The white alarms stay calm. The choice hangs in the air, while the exposed route pulses once, waiting.
“"Let see what what the quarantine is built around. Rather know than be surprised"”
SUCCESS (Good Reasoning, rolled -1)
Daro studies the pulsing route, and the drone projects the quarantine target into the air. A lower-level archive, sealed behind the maintenance spine, lights up as the thing the lockdown was built around.
The System Administrator
The quarantine predates the weapon. It contains an administrative asset removed from approved records.
Kragore
An asset. That is a very polite word for a problem.
The holo-readout flickers harder as the route resolves. Daro gets the answer, but the drone’s key burns a thin white line across the map, and the open panel spits a sharp pulse of static into the lab air.
Daro
The quarantine is around something below, not the weapon.
The System Administrator
Your access is provisional. Select the spine or remain at the doors.
Kragore straightens from the panel, wary now, while the maintenance spine keeps pulsing like a timed invitation. The choice shifts to Daro, and the lab waits.
Quest Complete
Understand the weapon's communication
Skill Upgrade: Intimidation Good→Great
“"We should check it out Kragore, make sure nothing gets out" he grins "Besides, couple empowered orcs like us?" he flexes "Not a problem. Especially if we merge" he winks.”
SUCCESS (Great Intimidation, rolled -1)
Daro
We should check it out, Kragore. Make sure nothing gets out.
Daro
Besides, a couple empowered orcs like us? Not a problem.
Daro
Especially if we merge.
Daro’s grin lands hard in the sterile glow, all confidence and chrome. The white light from the holo-map washes over his raised arm as he flexes, a clear, unmissable show of force and trust.
Kragore
He is trying to steady me, and he means it.
Kragore
You make a persuasive case, Daro. I am not fond of unknown archives, but I am fond of not letting them decide the day.
The System Administrator
Joint review is acceptable. The maintenance spine remains the safest access path.
Kragore’s wary line loosens into a small, sharp smile. He squares beside Daro instead of the panel, and the pulsing route on the holo-readout becomes their route, not just the drone’s offer.
“I nod and head down the shown route.”
SUCCESS (Fair Agility, rolled +0)